Pro's and Con's of
Staffing Organizations

Pro's

Working with staffing organizations or agency recruiters can expand your access to job openings. Top staffing companies will have positions you won't find anywhere else. And firms that provide temp services, in addition to more permanent options, can also be an excellent resource if you need to earn money while you look for the ideal opportunity.

The right recruiter can provide you with valuable insight into the position and the company. She has direct access to the hiring authority. As a result she will know what that manager is looking for beyond the written job description.

Your recruiter provides you with a third party recommendation when she is promoting your candidacy for a temporary-to-hire or direct placement position. This provides you with an edge on getting the interview. She can also be invaluable in helping you negotiate the best possible pay rate.

Companies aren't typically adding to head count when the economy is down. As a result they tend to have more temporary or contract type workers helping to get the job done. If you're one of these workers you're in an ideal position to be considered as a core employee when the company begins to hire again.

Working on a temporary basis can allow you to determine whether the company or work environment is right for you. And your placement person can act as your advocate if job related issues come up. This can keep you out of bad situations as well as leverage you into good ones.

The best staffing firms often provide access to free resources such as software tutorials, resume advice and interviewing tips.

Con's

Staffing organizations have two to three times as many people applying for openings because of their continuous recruiting efforts. This may tend to offset the fact that these recruiters are often working on several different openings at once.

Applying with a placement agency can be a waste of time if the service has no track record placing people into the types of positions you're most interested in. In this case you may never hear from them again. And if you do they call with opportunities you have no interest in.

The worst staffing firms will pay less than the going market rate for temporary positions. These companies make their profit at the expense of their external employees.

Some staffing organizations do not treat their external employees with dignity and respect. You can usually tell right away if you're "just a number" to these firms.

Temporary workers are sometimes treated as 'second class' citizens in some corporate environments. The worst staffing firms will not address this or other work place issues on behalf of their external employees.

Summary

Staffing agencies, Headhunters and Placement professionals should be looked at as viable job lead sources under the following conditions:

• If you find one that successfully works squarely in your area of interest. A reputable staffing firm will tell you whether or not they can help you. Thank them for that.

  If the recruiter does not offer this information ask pointed questions (about how many people they place monthly, in what types of positions, etc.) until you're satisfied.

• If you understand how to maximize your opportunity to succeed through a staffing firm. You gain a significant edge over the competition by giving recruiters what they need without having to be asked.

• If you've been out of work so long you need to earn money now. Your best bet to build long term success from an immediate need is to work with a temporary or contract staffing firm specializing in your area of interest.

The discussion here is based on best and worst practices. In real life most placement firms will fall somewhere in between.